Impacts of poverty alleviation on national and global carbon emissions

Carbon inequality mirrors extreme wealth and income inequalities globally, with a high level of consumption-based carbon emissions in rich nations. This study shows that lifting people out of poverty does not impact much emissions globally, though in poorer countries emissions could more than double. Wealth and income are disproportionately distributed among the global population. This has direct consequences on consumption patterns and consumption-based carbon footprints, resulting in carbon inequality. Due to persistent inequality, millions of people still live in poverty today. On the basis of global expenditure data, we compute country- and expenditure-specific per capita carbon footprints with unprecedented details. We show that they can reach several hundred tons of CO2 per year, while the majority of people living below poverty lines have yearly carbon footprints of less than 1 tCO(2). Reaching targets under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1, lifting more than one billion people out of poverty, leads to only small relative increases in global carbon emissions of 1.6-2.1% or less. Nevertheless, carbon emissions in low- and lower-middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa can more than double as an effect of poverty alleviation. To ensure global progress on poverty alleviation without overshooting climate targets, high-emitting countries need to reduce their emissions substantially.

Automated summary

Carbon inequality reflects global wealth and income inequalities, with wealthy nations having high levels of consumption-based carbon emissions. This study shows that poverty alleviation has limited impact on global emissions, although emissions in poorer countries could more than double. Inequality in wealth and income distribution has direct consequences on consumption patterns, leading to carbon inequality. Although lifting people out of poverty under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 results in only small relative increases in global emissions, poverty alleviation can significantly increase carbon emissions in low- and lower-middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. To ensure poverty alleviation without exceeding climate targets, high-emitting countries need to reduce their emissions substantially.